Introducing Jim Brandt, co-founder, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of the firm - known for his caring and straightforward approach to helping clients plan and invest. Jim leads the financial planning and investment advisory side of the practice providing a range of services from a simple cash flow analysis to complex long-term pre and post-retirement planning. Services also include, fee-based asset management and employer sponsored retirement plan consulting. With a passion for teaching, Jim stresses the importance of client engagement, making sure all understand what they have, why they have it and how it works for them.
Jim’s love for teaching also extends to the community. As a FEMA Certified Instructor, he teaches disaster preparedness classes through the Palatine CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program. He is a volunteer for the Palatine Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and an appointed trustee-board member of the Palatine Fire Department Pension Fund. In his role as trustee, Jim provides professional oversight of the investment firms who manage the pension funds.
Jim is President of the Plum Grove Homeowner’s Association and Past-President of the Palatine Chamber of Commerce. He and the entire BFC staff give back to the community through a variety of involvement. The Brandt’s personally and through their business support numerous non-profit organizations throughout the northwest suburbs. This includes Northwest Community Healthcare with memberships in a number of giving societies such as the President’s Circle and Living Legacy with ongoing stewardship throughout the year.
Jim is a huge Chicago Bears fan with a passion for all things football. He and his son, Elliot, collaborate often on the sport while viewing and attending Bear’s games whenever possible. Jim and Carol both take advantage of the many opportunities to enjoy live theatre productions in the city and suburbs along with music concerts and mini-vacations to places in the U. S. not yet explored. The Brandt’s are especially fond of their Galena, Illinois trips as well as evenings spent with clients and friends on the front porch of their historic office building in downtown Palatine.